Cosmetic container



Jan. 15, 1945. BOOK 2,367,457

COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed Dec. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l6 IO |2.- I II; |9a I4 27 I l HI unnlllillllll 24 3 46 fiHHHIHHIHHHHI 25 1: 24 Illllllllllllllllllll 2e,

INVENTOR.

CHARLES R. BOOK.

Til-5. 5 Ar rokwsy.

Jan. 16, 1945. c. R. BOOK 2,367,457

COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed Dec. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ;4 I I2 If" 51' ,5 l 1 TI 7| a II r I I 28 ll 9 ((I 9 ]Z L.

INVENTOR.

CHARLES R. BOOK.

,awA'r'roRrv Ey.

Patented Jan. 16, 1945 2,367,457 COSMETIC CONTAINER Charles R. Book, Waterbury, Conn, assignor to The Eyelet Specialty Company, Waterbury.

Conn.

Application December 8, 1941, Serial No. 422,032

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to cosmetic containers and more particularly to such containers in which means are provided for advancing or retracting the cosmetic material longitudinally f the device by the movement of a cap or s milar operating member rotatably about the longitudinal axis of the container.

The present invention includes certain improvements on my co-pending application for Letters Patent for improvements in a Cosmetic container, filed June 20, 1941, Serial No. 398,971.

In cosmetic containers of the type to which the present invention relates, the principal container is usually in the shape of a cylinder having a rotatable cap at one end or the other which, when rotated, advances the cosmetic material outwardly of the container for use. The propulsion and retraction of the cosmetic material is accomplished by means of a screw member; In accordance with such constructions, a projectionextends outwardly of the cosmetic carrier and is engaged in, on one hand, a straight slot and a spiral slot, or, on the other hand, a pair of spiral slots having opposite pitch. In accordance with the present invention, outward and inward movement of the cosmetic material is accomplished by means of a spiral slot and a plurality of straight grooves.

A primary requisite of such devices is that the cosmetic material be moved only when it is positively desired by the user. For example, the container is usually provided with a cap or cover member which closes the open end of the container through which the cosmetic material emerges when in use. With the cover or cap in place in a ladys handbag or in her pocket, if the operating head or otheractuating member is accidentally rotated, the cosmetic material, which is usually a soft cream mass, is forced up against the inner surface of the cover or cap and becomes thereby deformed. Furthermore, a certain amount of the cosmetic material is thus wasted by reason of its adherence to the inner surface of the cover and makes for a generally unkempt and unsatisfactory condition.

As an example of this, it may be noted that when the cosmetic material is in its advanced or projected position, that is, lying outside of the upper part of the container, when the cosmetic is applied, a certain amount of pressure is applied longitudinally of the cosmetic stick and the container. This pressure frequently results in the cosmetic material being pushed completely into the container and there is danger that the upp relatively thin edges of the container may damage the lips of the user. Also, when the cosmetic stick moves under normally useful pressure, it becomes difficult to so manipulate the cosmetic stick as to properly place the cosmetic material upon the lips of the user.

While various methods have been proposed to permit more positive control, under various conditions, of the movement of the cosmetic carrier, same have been open to the objection that they have either been in unsatisfactory operation or that they have been too expensive, since in ordinary commercial use at the present time, when the cosmetic material becomes consumed, the entire container is thrown away. Thus, where the container may be constructed at a lower production cost to operate efliciently the additional savings may be incorporated into the improvement of the quality of the materials in the cosmetic itself.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a novel and useful cosmetic container in which, by reason of the size, shape and position of certain of the parts, as well as the organization of the various components, economies result both in the manufacture of the parts and in the assembly thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of devices of the class described in which the movement of the cosmetic carrier is more positively controlled in that the cosmetic carrier is resiliently frictionally retained in any adjusted position thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of cosmetic container structure in which the number of parts is reduced while, at the same time, exposed mechanism is avoided.

Another object herein lies in the provision of cosmetic container structure wherein the projection on the cosmetic carrier is resiliently mounted and may engage with any one of a series of grooves so that revolution of the working parts of the device at either of the extremes of normal travel of the cosmetic carrier will not jam or damage the parts nor cause a time lag in the initiation of normal operation when the direction of rotation of the operating member is reversed.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings constituting a material part hereof, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views in each movement in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, with the cover removed and the cosmetic carrier in the fully advanced or extended position thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 1-4 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the cosmetic carrier prior to the incorporation thereof with the other components of the device.

Figure 5 is an elevational view, as seen from the left side of Figure 4, that is rotated through 90' with relation to Figure 4.

Figure 6 is horizontal sectional view, as seen from the plane on Figure 5.

Figure 'l is a fragmented elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figur 'l with the cover removed and the cosmetic carrier in the fully advanced cylinder of the second embodiment.

Turning now to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive showing the first embodiment of the invention the cosmetic container generally indicated by numeral l0 comprises a cover ii; an outer cylinder l2; an inner cylinder l2; and a cosmetic carrier l4. The cover II is of an inverted cup shape including a cylindrical side wall II and a top wall II, and is preferably in the form of a deep drawn metal shell. The side wall may have an undulating shape including the flutes "d.

' The outer cylinder 12 has both the upper and lower ends I1 and II respectively open. The cylinder I! has an undulating form, best seen in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings including a plurality of flutes Ila and on the inner surface thereof a corresponding arrangement of grooves II. The grooves I! extend continuously in directions paralleling the central longitudinal axis of the outer cylinder I! from the upper end II to the lower end l8 so that the outer cylinder I2 may be readily and economically formed by severing a piece of the requisite length from a longer piece of thin walled pipe or tubing having the proper surface characteristics. Thus, the tubing from which the outer cylinder l2 may be taken, may be formed by a semi-continuous drawing operation in an economical manner.

The inner cylinder l2 includes the cylindrical side wall 22, the bottom wall 22 and the exposed side wall portion or actuating member 24. The actuating member 24 includes the upper enlargement or shoulder 2| and a lower corresponding enlargement or shoulder 2|. In order to facilitate the rotation of these shoulders together with the parts connected thereto, these shoulders may be knurled in a well known manner. The inner cylinder is thus in the form of an open topped cup having the upper-end 21. Below the upper end 21, the inner cylinder I3 is provided with an expanded annular shoulder 2|, leaving the cap engaging portion The inner cylinder i3 is provided with a spiral slot or channel 29 having upper and lower ends 30 and 3| respectively. The lower closed end ll terminates slightly above the shoulder 25 while the upper end 3| terminates slightly below the shoulder 28. The upper end 3| of the spiral slot' or channel 2| is closed except for a vertically directed slot I2 which extends from the end 3| to the edge 21.

The cosmetic carrier I 4 is in the form of a hollow cup and is composed of suitably resilient material, preferably spring brass, having a cylindrical side wall I4 and a bottom wall II. The cup thus opens upwardly, the upper edge of the cylindrical wall 34 being indicated by numeral The side wall is provided with a V shaped orifice or cutout, thus leaving a resilient ton ue or spring member 3| which is formed of the same material and is integral with the side wall 84. The spring member 3| is of unusual configuration,,best seen in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, and extends outwardly of the normal body of the cylinder 84 by reason of a bend The bend 1| is along an axis parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the carrier l4. Theouter end of the spring member is provided with an outwardly bent tab-like proiection or lug 4|. The lug III is formed by reason of the bend 4| which is along a line parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the carrier. Thus, the lug 4| is normally radially disposed with relation to the longitudinal axis of the carrier i4.

The cosmetic stick may be composed of any suitable material normally used for this purpose and is usually in the form of a solid cylinder. The cosmetic stick II has a lower end which is placed in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall II and has an upper end 42. The internal diameter of the carrier I4 is such as to frictionally engage the outer cylindrical wall of the cosmetic stick II. The internal diameter of the inner cylinder II is slightly greater than the external diameter of the carrier i4. The internal diameter of the outer cylinder I2 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the inner cylinder II. The parts thus nest when assembled, as best seen in Figure 3.

One method of assembly of the parts to form a complete container is as follows:

The outer cylinder i 2 is forced downwardly over the inner cylinder l3 and the upper portion, that is to say, prinoipallythe shoulder 2| is contracted in diameter by the forcing together of the opposite vertical sides of the slot 32 so that the outer cylinder 12 may be moved downwardly thereover. After the end I! is below the shoulder 2|, said shoulder expands to prevent upward movement of the cylinder I2. Next the carrier is placed within the upper portion of the inner cylinder II with the lug 4| in the upper entrance to slot 32. In this position the outer surface of the spring member II will frictionally and resiliently engage the inner surface of the inner cylinder II adjacent thereto. The width of the slot 32 is normally slightly less than the transverse thickness, that is to say, the distance between the surface 4| and the surface 4| on the lug 4|. As the carrier I4 is pushed downwardly, the lug 4| engages the sides of the slot 32 and temporarily forces a separation between them suilicient to allow the downward passage therebe- ..tween of the lug 4|. When the lug 4| arrives at a level sufllciently low to have the outer tip thereof engage the inner surface of the outer cylinder i2, the lug 4| will be forced inwardly by reason of the resilient nature of the spring member 3|. This displacement of the lug 4| will be accompanied by a desirable resilient engagement of said lug with one of the grooves II which happens to be disposed adjacent the lower end of the slot 32 or shall we say, the upper end 3| of the slot 2|.

It may thus be noted at this stage that it is unnecessary to place the outer cylinder 12 in a particular predetermined rotated position since,

I the lug 40 and hence the carrier 14 to move downwardly or inwardly of the inner cylinder I3 until the lug 40 reaches the lower end 3i of the slot 29. Further rotation of the outer cylinder l2 in the same direction just described will cause the lug 40 to move inwardly and outwardly of thedevice in a radial direction so that the tip of the lug 40 will have an undulating motion corresponding to the internal configuration of the outer cylinder l2, as the lug will act like a resiliently mounted pawl and the internal surface of the outer cylinder [2 will act like an annular rack.

When rotation of the outer cylinder I2 is I changed to the opposite direction, that is to say,

to the left as seen in Figure 2, and clock-wise as seen in Figure 3, the lug 40 will be brought in contact with the lower edge of the slot 29 which, by reason of the pitch thereof, will cause the elevation of the lug 40 to the upper limit thereof. that is, to the upper end of the slot 29. Here again continued rotation of the outer sleeve or cylinder l2 in the direction last described will cause the outer end of the lug to ride upon the inner surface of the cylinder I! with no damage to the parts or movement of the cosmetic carrier I4.

Obviously, the cosmetic stick 5i may be inserted in the carrier Id at this time or it-may have been previously inserted therein before the carrier was articulately connected to the other parts.

Thus, as just described, it may be seen that rotation of the sleeve or cylinder I2 and/or rotation of the sleeve or cylinder I3 with relation to each other, will result in the projection or retraction of the carrier M in the cosmetic stick 5!. By reason of the construction and configuration of the spring member 38, the same resiliently engages the inner surface of the cylinder l3 and thus acts as a brake to control the movement of the carrier H longitudinally of the device. By adjusting either the resiliency or thickness of the spring member 38 or by adjusting the degree of the bend 39, any desired braking action may be had so that a predetermined amount of torque upon either of the cylinders 12 or l3 with relation to each other will be required to cause the carrier to move longitudinally of the device.

While the outer cylinder [2 has been shown and described as having the grooves I9 disposed longitudinally of said sleeve and parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, it'is, of course, feasible to make the slot 29 straight and to have the grooves 19 in screw-like or pitched arrangement. This construction is not specifically shown in the drawings.

By reason of the structure described. if the actuating member 24 is rotated beyond the normal path of travel required to project or retract the cosmetic carrier, no harm will come to the device, since the resilient lug 40 acts as a safety mechanism. The tip of the lug merely slipping cogs by riding over the convex ribs projecting inwardly of the outer cylinder I2.

The present construction is superior to that in which a pair of slotted sleeves are used with a covering element since, in the present construction, the outer sleeve or cylinder 12 acts as a covering member and has integrally formed therein grooves with which the ing 40 may coact.

Since all of the parts are each capable of being fabricated independently from all of the others and no machine forming or distorting operations are required at the time of assembly, both the cost of fabrication and assembly is reduced. It may be noted, however, that by use of the integral lug 40 the need for punching the carrier l4 and providing the same with a riveted projection is eliminated. Since the lug 40 is resiliently mounted, it may shift radially of the device as the carrier is longitudinally moved in either direction. to accommodate slight variations in the size of the parts so that the commercial tolerances required during the manufacturing operations may be so much greater.

By reason of the novel braking action obtained by the use of a spring member 38, accidental or indefinite moving of the carrier, either up or down, during use or during the carrying thereof. is reduced to a minimum.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures '7 to 10 inclusive. for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition. parts corresponding generally to those of the first embodiment are given singly primed reference characters.

The principal difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the fact that instead of the outer cylinder l2 being composed of a relatively thin material having an undulating configuration, it is composed of a relatively thick material having a smooth outer surface l2a' and an undulating inner surface including a plurality of grooves l9.

As mentioned previously in connection with the first embodiment of the invention the slot in the second embodiment corresponding to the slot 29 may be straight and longitudinally disposed and the grooves I9 may be arranged in screw fashion. Thus, as seen in Figure 10, the outer sleeve or cylinder l2 presents a form which may be radially cast or molded to have the desired interior and exterior configuration. In the second embodiment all of the operating advantages of the first embodiment are retained, yet surface direction on the surface l2a' is not restricted by reason of any dependence upon the mechanical construction of the interior surface thereof.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a plurality of spaced and parallel grooves; an inner cylinder having a slot, said cylinders being rotatable with relation to each other; a cosmetic carrier having a movable lug resiliently mounted thereon said lug penetrating said slot and adapted to follow the surface undulations on the inner wall of the outer cylinder as the outer cylinder is rotated and to move from groove to groove among the grooves of the outer cylinder.

2. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a plurality of spaced and parallel grooves; an inner cylinder having a slot with the ends of said slot being disposed short of the ends of said cylinder, said cylinders being rotatable with relation to each other; a cosmetic carrier having a movable lug resiliently mounted thereon said lug penetrating said slot and engaging one of said grooves whereby, upon arriving at either oi. the said ends of the slot continued rotation of the cylinders with relation to each other will cause the lug to move from groove to groove on the inner surface of the outer cylinder.

3. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a plurality of spaced and parallel grooves; an inner cylinder having a slot with the ends of said slot being disposed short of the ends of said cylinder, said cylinders being continuously rotatable in either direction with relation to each other; a cosmetic carrier having a resilient lug, said lug penetrating said slot and engaging one of said grooves in said outer cylinder, said lug being transierably movable from one groove to another in said outer cylinder by rotation of the inner slotted cylinder through a circumferential distance greater than that included between the ends of said slot.

4. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a plurality of grooves therein; an inner cylinder having a slot; a cosmetic carrier having a V shaped cut-out forming a resilient tongue said tongue extending outwardly from said carrier, penetrating said slot, and resiliently engaging any one of said grooves, said outer cylinder being rotatable with relation to said tongue.

5. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a plurality of spaced and parallel grooves therein forming an internal annular rack;

an inner cylinder having a slot; a cosmetic carrier having a resiliently mounted movable lug extending outwardly therefrom penetrating said slot and engaging said rack with pawl-like action, the resiliency and amount of movement of said lug being suiilcient for the lug to contact the innermost portions of least diameter of the outer cylinder and to spring back into the grooves in said outer cylinder to engage the side walls thereof.

6. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a groove therein; an inner cylinder having a slot; a cosmetic carrier having an integral resilient tongue outwardly bent from said carrier, said resilient tongue having an integral tree ended lug bent outwardly therefrom, said lug being bent about an axis parallel to and spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the carrier, the said lug penetrating said slot and engaging said groove.

7. A cosmetic container comprising: an outer cylinder having a groove therein; an inner cylinder having a slot; a cosmetic carrier having a v shaped cut-out forming a resilient tongue, said tongue extending outwardly from said carrier, penetrating said slot and resiliently engaging said groove, said outer cylinder being rotatable with relation to said tongue, said tongue undulating radially with respect to the carrier as the terminal of said tongue enters or leaves said groove and contacts the inner surface of the outer cylinder.

CHARLES R. BOOK. 

